Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
PARTITIONED COLLECTION CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to collection containers.
More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a partitioned
collection container provided with lids that may be separately open.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Partitioned collection containers are known in the art.
They are conventionally used to collect recyclable andlor non-recyclable
waste material.
For example, United States Patent N° 5,458,452 issued
to !Louis A. Pellegrini on October 17, 1995 and entitled: "VEHICLE AND
METHOD FOR COLLECTING RECYCLABLE WASTE MATERIAL"
describes a three-compartment vehicle used to collect different types of
recyclable material. A three-compartment container is used to keep the
recycled material segregated between collections. When the vehicle lifts
the container, the compartments of the container are aligned with the
compartment of the vehicle to therefore transfer the different types of
recyclable material from the compartments of the container to the
appropriate compartments of the vehicle.
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The vehicle and method described by Pellegrini has
many drawbacks. For example, since the three lids of the compartments
of the container open simultaneously and since the distance separating
they compartment is relatively small, the separation of the different types
of recyclable material in the vehicle may not be sufficient. Furthermore,
the dimensions of the compartments of the vehicle must be carefully
ballanced to ensure that they will fill at approximately the same rate.
United States Patent N° 5,490,606 issued to Santo J.
Lombardo on February 1:3, 1996 and entitled: " REFUSE CONTAINER
FOR SEGREGATING REFUSE AND TRUCK ATTACHMENT FOR USE
IN CONNECTION THEREWITH" describes a two-compartment container
provided with separate lids that may selectively be locked before the
transfer of the refuse from the container to a refuse collecting vehicle. An
aci:uator is provided on the refuse collecting vehicle to actuate one of two
locking mechanisms used to prevent the lids from opening. Each locking
mechanism is under the form of an eccentric element rotating under the
pressure of the actuator and engaging a projection of a respective lid.
This engagement prevent the lid from opening when the container is
manipulated by the refuse collecting vehicle.
The container of Lombardo, while being an improvement
over the container of Pellegrini since it provides means for selectively lock
one of the lids, suffers from various drawbacks. For example, the lids
must be properly closed for the locking mechanisms to operate
adequately. Indeed, if the projection of the lid is too far from its normal
position, the eccentric element will not contact it and the lid will open.
This could be caused by refuse or other material so positioned between
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the lid and the container to prevent adequate closure of the lid.
Furthermore, the locking mechanisms and/or the projection of the lids
may be damaged if they are inadequately positioned when the locking
mechanism attempts to engage the projection of the lid.
OE3JECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide
an improved partitioned collection container.
SUIMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided a partitioned collection container comprising:
a body provided with a front wall, a rear wall, two lateral
side walls and a bottom wall; the body also including two internal partition
walls defining a first compartment, a second compartment and a third
compartment; the first compartment being a central compartment and the
second and third compartments being lateral compartments;
a first lid hingedly connected to the body; the first lid is
pivotable between a closed position where it closes the first compartment
arnd an open position;
a second lid hingedly connected to the body; the second
lid is pivotable between a closed position where it closes the second
compartment and an open position;
a third lid hingedly connected to the body; the third lid
is pivotable between a closed position where it closes the third
compartment and an open position;
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lid locking mechanism mounted to the body; the lid
locking mechanism being associated with the first, second and third lids
to ;allow one of the first lid or the second and third lids to open.
According to another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a partitioned collection container comprising:
a body provided with a front wall, a rear wall, two lateral
side walls and a bottom wall; the body also including two internal partition
walls defining a first compartment, a second compartment and a third
compartment; the first compartment being a central compartment and the
second and third compartments being lateral compartments;
a cover provided with first, second and third apertures
respectively open to the first, second and third compartments;
a first lid hingedly connected to the cover; the first lid is
pivotable between a closed position where it closes the first compartment
and an open position; the first lid including a projecting lip;
a second lid hingedly connected to the cover; the
second lid is pivotable between a closed position where it closes the
second compartment and an open position; the second lid including a
projecting pin;
a third lid hingedly connected to the cover; the third lid
is pivotable between a closed position where it closes the third
compartment and an open position; the third lid including a projecting pin;
and
lid locking mechanism mounted to the body and
including:
first and second push-bars pivotally mounted to the
front wall of the body; the first and second push-bars
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being pivotable between a retracted position and an
extended position;
first and second push-rods respectively connected to
the first and second push-bars so that the pivoting of
5 the push-bars between the retracted and extended
positions cause the longitudinal displacement of the
push-rods between respective unlocking and locking
positions; each the first and second push-rod being
provided with a pin locking element configured, sized
and positioned to engage the projecting pin of one of
the second and third lids when the first and second
push-rods are in the locking position; and
a cross-bar provided between the first and second
push-bars and positioned to engage the projecting lip of
the first lid when the first and second push-bars are in
the retracted position to thereby prevent the first lid from
opening;
whereby (a) when the first and second push-bars are in the retracted
poaition the cross-bar prevent the first lid from pivoting to the open
po:;ition and the first and second push-rods are in the unlocking position,
therefore allowing the second and third lids to pivot to their respective
open positions; and (b) when the first and second push-bars are in the
exirended position the cross-bar does not engage the projecting lip,
therefore allowing the first lid to pivot to the open position and the first
and
second push-rods are in the locking position, therefore preventing the
second and third lids from pivoting to their respective open positions.
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Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non
restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a partitioned
collection container according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the partitioned
collection container of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the partitioned collection
container of Figure 1 engaged by the lifting arms of a non-recyclable
waste material collecting vehicle;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the partitioned
colllection container of Figure 1 engaged by the lifting arms of a non-
recyclable waste material collecting vehicle and positioned to empty its
central collecting compartment;
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Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the
partitioned collection container of Figure 1 engaged by the lifting arms of
a recyclable waste material collecting vehicle;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the partitioned collection
container of Figure 1 engaged by the lifting arms of a recyclable waste
material collecting vehicle; and
Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the partitioned
collection container of Figure 1 engaged by the lifting arms of a recyclable
waste material collecting vehicle and positioned to empty its lateral
collecting compartments into the separate compartments of the recyclable
waste material collecting vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the appended figures, a partitioned
collection container 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the
prE~sent invention will be described.
The partitioned collection container 10 includes a body
12 and a lid assembly 14 mounted to the body 12.
The body 12 includes a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, first
arrd second lateral walls 20, 22, a bottom wall 24 and first and second
partition walls 26, 28. The partition walls 26, 28, together with the walls
16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 define a central compartment 30 positioned
between two lateral compartments 32, 34.
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As can be better seen from Figure 2, the front wall 16
includes a door 36 provided with a lock 38 and a pull handle 40. This
door 36 enables users to put waste material into the central compartment
30.. Similarly, the lateral wall 22 includes a door 42 (Figure 1 ) provided
with a locklhandle 44 enabling users to put waste material in the lateral
compartment 34. Of course, the lateral wall 20 also includes such a door
(not shown) enabling users to put waste material in the lateral
compartment 32.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the handle
40 is pivotable mounted to the door 38 so as to pivot between an
exi:ended position shown in Figure 1, and a retracted position shown in
Figure 6. The handle 40 includes springs 46, 48 biasing the handle 40
tov~ards its extended position.
The body 12 of the container 10 also includes lateral
guides 50, 52 respectively mounted to the lateral sides 20, 22. The
lateral guides 50, 52 allow the container 10 to be manipulated by the
conventional lifting arms of waste material collecting vehicles as will be
described hereinafter.
The lid assembly 14 includes a cover 54 fixedly mounted
to the body 12 and provided with openings (not shown) to the
compartments 30, 32 and 34. The lid assembly 14 also includes a first
lid 56 pivotally mounted to the cover 54 via a hinge element 58 and pivot
pins 60, 62 to close the opening of the compartment 30; a second lid 64
pivotally mounted to cover 54 in the proximity of the lateral side 20 via
hinges 66, 67 and 68 to close the opening of the compartment 32; and a
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third lid 70 pivotally mounted to the cover 54 in the proximity of the lateral
side 22 via hinges 72, 73 and 74 to close the opening of the compartment
34.. The lid assembly 14 further includes a lid locking mechanism 76
mounted to the front wall 16 and to the cover 54.
The first lid 56 may thus pivot about pivot pins 60, 62
between a closed position shown, for example, in full lines in Figure 1 and
an open position shown in dashed lines in Figure 1 and in full lines in
Figure 4. The first lid 56 also includes a lip 78, the purpose of which will
be described hereinafter.
Similarly, the second and third lids 64, 70 may be
pivoted about their respective hinges 66, 67, 68 and 72, 73, 74 between
closed positions illustrated, for example, in Figure 2 and open positions
illustrated in Figure 7.
The second lid 64 includes a projecting pin 80 fixedly
mounted via a support 82, while the third lid 70 includes a projecting pin
84 fixedly mounted via a support 86. As will be described shortly, the
projecting pins 80, 84 are provided to releasably lock the second and third
lids 64, 70 in their closed positions, respectively.
To prevent excessive opening of the second and third
lid s 64 and 70, the hinges 66) 67, 68, 72, 73 and 74 are provided with
respective stoppers 88, 89, 90, 92, 93 and 94 configured and sized to
abut against the lateral sides when a predetermined open position is
reached.
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The lid locking mechanism 76 includes two push bars
96, 98 mounted to the front wall 16 via respective cube-shaped brackets
101), 102, a cross-bar 104 interconnecting the two push bars 96, 98 and
two push-rods 106, 108 mounted between the cross-bar 104 and
5 respective brackets 110, 112.
The configuration and size of the cube-shaped brackets
100, 102 enable the push-bars 96, 98 to pivot between an extended
position illustrated, for example, in Figure 1 and a retracted position
10 illustrated, for example, in Figure 5.
The cross-bar 104, since it is fixedly mounted to the
push-bars 96, 98) is accordingly moved between extended and retracted
positions. When the cross-bar 104 is in its retracted position, it engages
the lip 78 of the lid 56 to place the lid 56 in a locked state.
The push-rods 106, 108 are linearly movable between
a locking position illustrated, for example, in Figure 1 and a non-locking
position illustrated, for example, in Figure 5. Springs 114, 116 are
respectively positioned between the push-rods 106, 108 and the
corresponding brackets 110, 112 to bias the push-rods 106, 108 towards
their locking position. Pin locking elements 118, 120 are fixedly mounted
to a respective push-rod 106, 108 so as to be moved between a locking
position illustrated, for example, in Figure 1 and a non-locking position
illustrated, for example, in Figure 5.
The springs 114, 116 by biasing the push-rods 106 and
108 towards their locking position, therefore keep the second and third
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lid:> 64 and 70 in a normally locked position. Conversely, the springs 114,
11 E3, by biasing the cross-bar 104 towards its extended position, keep the
first lid 56 in a normally unlocked position.
The lid locking mechanism 76 also includes abutting
elements 122, 124, the purpose of which will be described hereinbelow.
The operation of the partitioned collection container 10
will now be described with reference to Figures 3-7 of the appended
drawings.
More specifically, Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the central
compartment 30 of the partitioned collection container 10 being emptied
in .a conventional non-recyclable waste material collecting vehicle 200
shown in dashed lines, while Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the lateral
compartments 32 and 34 of the partitioned collection container 10 being
emptied in a compartmented recyclable waste material collecting vehicle
300 shown in dashed lines.
It is to be noted that the vehicles 200 and 300 are
schematically illustrated herein.
Turning now more specifically to Figures 3 and 4, the
vehicle 200 includes conventional lateral lifting arms 202, 204 configured
and sized to enter the lateral guides 50, 52 of the container 10. The
lateral lifting arms 202 and 204 are interconnected by a cross-bar 206.
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Since the vehicle 200 is intended to receive the content
of the central compartment 30, the first lid 56 must remain unlocked while
they second and third lids 64 and 70 must remain locked. As described
hereinabove, the push-bars 96, 98 and the cross-bar 104 must remain in
their respective extended positions for the above-noted results to be
obtained. The abutting elements 122, 124 are therefore positioned and
sized so as to stop the cross-bar 206 before it contacts the push-bars 96,
98.
As can be better seen from Figure 4, the first lid 56
opens when the partitioned collection container 10 is turned upside-down
by the lifting arms 202, 204. The content of the compartment 30 (see
arrow 208) is therefore emptied into the vehicle 200.
Turning now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, two major differences
exist between the vehicle 200 and the vehicle 300. Firstly, the cross-bar
305 interconnecting the lifting arms 302 and 304 is provided with push
blocks 306, 308, configured, sized and positioned to push onto the push-
bars 96, 98 of the lid locking mechanism 76. Secondly, the vehicle 300
includes two longitudinal compartments 310, 312 (Figure 7) positioned to
respectively receive the content of the compartments 32, 34 (see arrows
314 and 316) of the partitioned collection container 10.
As can be better seen from Figure 5, the forward
mavement (see arrow 318) of the lifting arms 302, 304 cause the push
blacks 306 and 308 to push onto the push-bars 96, 98 to therefore cause
the longitudinal displacement of the push-rods 106, 108 (see arrow 320)
by compressing the springs 114, 116. This displacement disengages the
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pin locking elements 118, 120 from the projecting pins 80, 84 to thereby
unlock the second and third lids 64, 70. Similarly, the engagement of the
projecting lip 78 by the cross bar 104 (see Figure 6) locks the first lid 56
in its closed position.
Figure 7 therefore illustrates the results of the
manipulation of the partitioned collection container 10 by a suitable
vehicle 300. Namely, the content of the lateral compartment 32 is
emptied into the compartment 310 of the vehicle 300 while the content of
lateral the compartment 34 is emptied into the compartment 312 of the
vehicle 300.
It is to be noted that since the central compartment 30
is provided between the lateral compartments 32 and 34, it therefore
serves as a buffer space ensuring that no mixing of the contents of the
lateral compartments 32 and 34 occur during the transfer of the material
from the container 10 to the vehicle 300.
As an example of application of the container 10, non-
recyclable waste material could be collected in the central compartment
while fiber-containing recyclable material, for example paper and
cardboard, could be collected in the lateral compartment 32 and non-
fiber-containing recyclable material, for example plastic, metal and glass,
could be collected in the lateral compartment 34. In this application, the
25 buffer space created by the central container 30 prevents the different
types of recyclable material contained in the lateral compartments 32 and
34 from being mixed when respectively transferred to the compartments
310, 312 of the recyclable material collecting vehicle 300.
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As will be easily understood by one skilled in the art,
since the central compartment 30 is used to collect garbage waste
material, it needs to be emptied more often than the lateral compartments
32 and 34 used to collect recyclable material. In this case, the position
of the lateral doors (only door 42 shown) of the compartments 32 and 34
in the rear portions of the lateral walls 20 and 22 is advantageous since
the recyclable material (not shown) contained in the compartments 32
and 34 is moved towards the front wall 16, thus freeing the vicinity of the
lateral doors, when the central compartment 30 is emptied. The lateral
compartments 32 and 34 may therefore be adequately filled through
relatively small lateral doors.
It is to be noted that since the stoppers 88-94 prevent
the second and third lids 64 and 70 from excessive opening, these lids
will pivot to their respective closed position when the container 10 is
replaced on the ground. Indeed, without the stoppers 88-94, the second
and third lids 64, 70 could open exceedingly which could lead to the
failure to properly close.
It is also to be noted that each compartment 30, 32 and
34 includes a door, different from the lids 56, 64 and 70, intended to be
operated by the users to put recyclable and non-recyclable waste material
in the compartments 30, 32 and 34. This is an advantage since the lids
56, 64 and 70 are thus only openable by the vehicles 200 and 300 to
therefore prevent overfilling of the compartments by the users.
Although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified,
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without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as
defined in the appended claims.
